Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 April 1993 — Page 3

THE MfMANAPOLB RECORDER

PAGE A3

SATURDAY, APRIL 3,1933

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Opinions You can't trust ! i ■ [ y ■' r \ i white media

If there was ever a need for reasons why African Americans must strengthen the Mack press and stop supporting racist white media, the powerful but bankrupt twins of white media supremacy — The Atew York Post and The New York Daily News — provide them beyond a shadow of a doubt Reason number one: The New YorkPost,once a champion for liberal causes in the 1960s, has become a racist deeply conservative nearly all-white “newspaper” that viciously attacks anything concerning Mack self-determination. The Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP). a Queens-based organization, began a boycott of The Post — known as “The National Inquirer of the Dailies”—two years ago. But the real storm over The Parr began several weeks ago when Abraham Hirschfeld, its controversial new owner, named Wilbert A. Tatum, co-publisher and editor. Tatum is publisher and editor-in-chief of The New York Amsterdam News. The Amsterdam, based in Harlem, is one of the country’s premier black newspapers. It has taken heat for its controversial stands during the past few years. In addition to teaming up with Tatum, Hirschfeld also fired 72 staffers, including beloved Post editor Pete Hamill. (Hirschfeld had said he is more interested in the real estate than the newspaper.) The Post's staff then revolted, first by refusing to publish, then printing a despicable 13-page attack in The Post against Tatum, Hirschfeld and The Amsterdam, calling the Harlem institution “anti-Semitic.” (In New York City, for a Mack leader or black media institution to be called “anti-Semitic” usually means they take strong stands for the Mack community against the local white power structure.) Hamill later comes back to reclaim his desk, and The Pair newsroom cheers. The Post's news staff keeps his name on the masthead. The national white media plays the situation up positively, with humor and loyalty to a fellow member of ’The Third Estate.” By the end of the week, Hirschfeld dumps Tatum and rehires Hamill. The Post's staff is rewarded for its racism. i , Reason number two: The New York Daily News — The 1 ' National Association of Black Journalists, the nation's largest media organization of people of color, recently issued a making to its ip embers calling for pressure to Jim put on Mortimer Zucke mr^n. The News ’ ne w owner. Why? Because last Jan. 7, he fired 182 business and news employees, lire number is approximately one-third of the Newspaper Guikrs 540 members. Nearly all of the newspaper’s Made male reporters were fired, including David Hardy. He had spearheaded a successful racial discrimination suit against The New* in 1987. Hardy started a campaign to boycott The Newj and was joined by the guild. Zuckennan also told The City Sun, a Mack weekly published in Brooklyn, he is evaluating new applications to increase hiring of minorities at The News. But while he was "evaluating.” he hired several reporters and editors from a rival New York newspaper. Guess from where? The Post. The City Sun reported Zuckennan said he had recently hired four Mack reporters, three male and one female. But they are not the ones who lost their jobs, like Hardy. Support your local Mack press and the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Don’t hold your breath waiting for white people to understand you and/or give you power overtheirmedia systems! Join organizations like CEMOTAP. If there isn’t one in your area, organize campaigns to destroy all racist white media like The Post and The News, if they refuse to change. If not. Mack people will sit by powerlessly while both papers continue to make fools of them. The nation’s white news media may police itself when it comes to phony explosions on NBC-TV magazine shows, but it doesn't when it comes to its own racism. As long as the actions of both The Post and The News remain unchallenged by the nation’s Mack communities, rest assured that similar cases will happen again. • Todd Burroughs, writer of this ogjutmeohnu. Is the recipient of the 1992-93 Knight-Bidder Public Affairs Reporting Fellowship at the University ofMay land at College Park. He also is Washington correspondent and columnist /or The New York Amsterdam News.

WRITING TO THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

The Indianapolis Rerorder P.0. Box 1 8499 Indianapolis, IN 46218 0499

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Citizens should beware of health care problems The Indiana Family and Social Services not the main issue since the cost of his new General AssemMy. They have the opportunity Administration’s handling of the movement of home—150 miles away fonn Ms mother—is todealwiththisveryrealproblemforhundreds Leroy Hammond from a nursing home in French almost twice the cost of Ms care in the French. of Hoosier families. ! Lick to a facility in Marion is appalling. Lick nursing home. The General Assembly must assure that criUnfortunately, the citizens of Indiana should I believe it was expedience that led the sis cases like Leroy and Mary are addressed in be prepared for such situations to continue Indiana Family and Social Services Adminis- the budget because of the administration’s unwillingness nation officials to tMs abusive action upon two I believe no citizen of Indianapolis would to provide the basic needs of many of our people unaMe to effectively intervene on their knowingly allow a family member, a friend or state’s citizens. Own behalf. a neighbor to be treated with the indignity with Hundreds of ca^es like tMs one are waiting < Although, according to the article, several wMch Many Harris and Leroy were treated, to happen—many of them right here in India- other more appropriate alternatives were avail- WemusteachtakeontheresponsiMlitytosee napolis. State officials seem to think funding or aMe to Hammond near where Ms mother was that it never happens again, regulatory constraints freely justify this inlni- living, no one bothered to put forth the time or mane and injurious treatment of valued citizens energy to identify and implement any of these ErvPicha of our state. alternatives. Noble Centers In Hammond’s case, however, funding was We are currently in the midst of the Indiana Indianapolis

A bill that will increase our taxes

There is presently, in the senate, a bill that will increase our taxes and the amount of money we send to public schools. It is House Bill 1003. They are calling it the school funding MU. TMs MU wiU also take away all substantial authority from the school board and give it to the superintendent. Presendy, if we have a problem, parents can go to the School Board and make suggestions or request the board make necessary changes witMn the school. The school board is elected by voters so that the school administration cannot escape puMic accountability. However, this new MU will take away our rights to appeal to the school board. TMs MU wiU also make it possible for a superintendem to put inschool health clinics in place. One Indianapolis school already has one. These clinics could promote “safe sex” and even give abortion referrals to our young daughters without parental knowledge or con-

sent, during school time...with our tax doUars. TMs is not the kind of education most parents want their cMldren to receive. We need less government, not more. It’s time to get involved before we lose more of our rights as parents and taxpayers. CaU your state senator today. Ask Mm to vote against H.B. 1003. We need to protect our fight to have a voice in puMic education. The senate phone numbers are 232-9400.232-9500or 1-800-382-9467. The Governor may be reached at: The Indiana Statehouse The Hon. Evan Bayh Indianapolis, IN. 46204 or phone at 232-4567. tf you are not sure who your state senator is, caU the clerk’s office at your coumy courthouse to find out. Suzanne M. Beaman Auburn, Indiana

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